Adelaide overcame a slow start and late scare to register a nine-point victory over Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, their third AFL win on the trot.

The Crows conceded the opening four goals of the contest, but dominated the second and third quarters as they poured on eight consecutive goals to run out 13.14 (92) to 12.11 (83) winners.

From the moment Tory Dickson kicked truly to give the hosts a game-high 28-point lead early in the second quarter, it was all Adelaide as they clicked into gear and James Podsiadly ran rampant.

The Bulldogs’ next goal came in the third minute of the final term, when key forward Stewart Crameri turned crumber in a goal-square scramble.

But the Bulldogs some how seized the momentum after Crameri’s major and 13 minutes later they had regained the lead when Dickson dobbed his third goal.

With the help of stand-in skipper Rory Sloane the visitors steadied, Matthew Wright and Josh Jenkins both waltzing into the goal square unopposed to kick the easiest of clutch goals.

Bulldogs Lachie Hunter and Luke Dahlhaus both missed goals in response, and they eventually ran out of time after a kicking-in error from Jack McCrae gifted a goal to Eddie Betts.

Jenkins and Podsiadly both booted three goals, making the most of an undersized and undermanned Bulldogs defence that was minus Dale Morris (ankle) and Jordan Roughead (shoulder).

Both the second and third quarter ended with a heated scrimmage.

Dangerfield was felled by Daniel Giansiracusa shortly before three-quarter time and looked to be in much discomfort for the remainder of the game, while Adam Cooney and Rory Laird needed to be separated by teammates at half time.

Dangerfield was again among the Crows’ best, tallying 29 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances.

Tom Lynch kicked two goals and clutched seven marks, with Crows coach Brenton Sanderson set to make a tough call as he mulls who to take out of the team for fit-again spearhead Taylor Walker.

There were plenty of highlights for the Bulldogs, and not just from usual suspects Matthew Boyd, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney and Bob Murphy.

Unfortunately for locals, the vast majority of them came amidst a four-goal blitz in the opening 15 minutes of the match.

Tom Campbell twice outmarked Kyle Hartigan with ease in the opening three minutes, while Dickson looked similarly dangerous in spurts.